Has anyone looked at the draconian laws which the West Australian Government has drafted to control prostitution?

I am a happily married man with no need for the services of the ladies of the night. However, I respect their right to provide a service which is in demand and harms no-one. The stories about all prostitutes being desperate drug addicts or abused women are just that. Stories, half-truths and lies peddled by churches and their followers who, unfortunately, seem to include too many politicians. The proposed legislation merely panders to religious bigots and other wowsers who want to ban the sex industry altogether.

Over half of the sex workers in W.A. operate from private homes and most have little or no impact on their neighbours. I once lived next door to a "working girl" and she caused no problems - the other neighbour’s yappy terrier was far worse. The only problem which needs fixing is that of (mainly Asian) pimps setting up brothels in suburban houses using girls who, if not slaves, are close to it. These gangsters are a blight on our society but can and should be dealt with under existing laws. But hands off the well-run brothels and private workers who are harming no-one and providing a useful outlet for the sexually underprivileged.

I believe the laws should allow the sex industry in Western Australia to continue to operate as it does now without these bureaucratic and onerous registration provisions. I am sure the owners of the better run houses and organisations like Scarlet Alliance would be happy to help draft them and it is a pity they weren't consulted earlier.

The laws are to be debated in Parliament on July 23 and submissions can be made via this website which shows a summary of the proposed laws.

http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=141141

I urge everyone to read the draft and send the Government a clear message that we will not tolerate oppressive laws like these. If the religious wowsers get away with this who knows what will be targeted next?

Dear MM,

Where there is a demand there will always be a supply as the saying goes. The same applies to the oldest profession. It's far better to have it regulated, health checks and standards in place - then to encourage "street" walkers. Therefore WA needs to look to other states, and get with the times, and health and safety standards.

Will never happen. Prostitution is an industry, WA does not have industry.

[Deleted for abuse.]

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Lexi, there is no problem with having sensible laws governing prostitution. My beef is with the draconian way our wowser-dominated Government proposes going about it. Their obvious agenda is not to control it, rather to stigmatise it and, in all probability, drive it underground.

It really is time we took a stand against the rising tide of wowserish puritanism. Let this pass and the liquor laws wll be next. The Government is already considering a study recommending sweeping "reform" which really amounts to further restrictions. If you don't want Nanny-State laws intruding further into social matters best get involved now.

Dear MM,

I live in Victoria and possibly our laws are fairer. I don't know much about WA. Brothels in suburbia are mainly controlled by local councils here - and are carefully monitored. There are enough brothels in the CBD of Melbourne to cater for all tastes.

I lived in Kalgoorlie W.A. for a long time, and the sex industry in that City is alive and kicking, now here's the surprise, the said sex industry has the backing of the Churches and the Community. Why? you may ask. It is because being a mining town, and a lot of single men work on the mines, some of them being away for a few weeks before returning to the City. When they come back, they go to the sex workers, who wouldn't?. During my long stay in Kalgoorlie, there was not one incidence of rape. The Ladies of the night provide a real service, they are held in esteem throughout the City, and they have weekly checkups (mandatory) at the Doctors. They provide a great service, are intelligent ladies and are/were instrumental in keeping the female population safe from sexual predators and the like. Typically, the Barnett Government who is very city centric, and doesn't know or understand the mores of Kalgoorlie, thinks that one glove fits all......sadly he is wrong. Unfortunately he (rightly or wrongly)accuses the incumbent Federal Government of being Eastern States Centric (perhaps he needs to practice what he preaches on Country Dwellers in WA).

Dear MM,
Responding to your urging to oppose this Bill, I have just posted my objection to Christian Porter regarding the Bill. I also reminded him that the 'One Policy Fits All' is impossible given the vastness of this State and the different cultures herein.
Thanks for alerting us on this thread.
Cheers,
Noisy Scrub Bird

To Dear a597
Re your comment "Prostitution is an Industry -W.A. doesn't have Industry."
Being a Western Australian I can assure you that Industry. including Sex Workers is crawling. The mining sector is wide spread, i.e. Gold, Nickel Iron Ore, Gas, to name but a few is alive and very much kicking, GST from W.A. is paid in larger proportions, the sex industry is prevalent in Perth, and very much alive in Kalgoorlie for example.I know that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but it is best to 'find out' rather than shoot from the hip.
Cheers
Noisy Scrub Bird.